Father Emmanuel Lykopandis, the parish priest of the Church of Saint John the Forerunner and Baptist in Carlton North, Melbourne was honoured by Victoria Police on Tuesday, August 6.
Father Emmanuel was awarded the Police Service Medal for 11 years of providing spiritual counsel to the police officers from Moonee Ponds, Flemington, Avondale Hights, Fawkner, Brunswick and North Melbourne Police station, and to two specialised units, the Air Wing at Essendon airport and RPDAS at the Dawson Street complex.
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Shane Patton presented the parish priest with the medal on the occasion of the 50 years anniversary of police chaplaincy in Victoria. The Victorian Minister of Police and Emergency services, Anthony Carbines MP was also present.
Fr Emmanuel said it was “an honour” to be awarded.
“I was humbled by the whole thing. Especially in a place that is dominated by Western Anglican religions, to be a multicultural faith and outsider and to be recognised by the government and Victoria Police was lovely. I was on a high, I truly was honoured,” Fr Emmanuel told The Greek Herald.
